The Issue of Term Limits on the State Level
Mar 19, 2007
When New York City put term limits on the ballot, I voted against it. When they tried to put the vote again, I was still against imposing term limits. Both times, New Yorkers stood in favor of term limits and now all municipal seats are term limited to eight to ten years.
Today, after being active in politics for two-and-a-half years, I find myself in favor of term limits. My original feeling was that term limits prevents me from voting for a candidate I like, if they choose to run beyond the eight years of service. Now, I've done a complete 180. Public service should not be a career, but a duty and those that seek service should have a chance to serve. Without term limits, incumbents use their power to hold office until they die.
In 2005, I ran for city council in a seat that was open due to term limits. When I would be out on the street campaigning at street fairs and the local parks, I would encounter other candidate also out introducing themselves to the many potential voters enjoying the summer days in the city. Because my district was an open seat, we had 13 candidates seeking office. Yes, the primaries would widdle it down to three candidates (if I had made it - four), but the people had many choices and on primary day, they voted for their choice.
It occurred to me that in a city like New York, democracy works best when you open the system to new blood. This all made sense to me suddenly.
Unfortunately, the State desperately needs to reform its election process and one key step would be to institute term limits. Of course, there are many steps that need to be taken and I'll list the steps I think should be take on the state level.
The first step is setting up a non-partisan redistricting commission that can create as many competitive seats in both the Senate and the Assembly. The last two census reports forced the leaders of both legislative houses to gerrymander their chamber to favor their own party. The Democrats were allowed to chop up assembly districts and the Republicans were allowed to chop up senate districts. This needs to stop and a true non-partisan (or tri-partisan) commission should be established to give both parties a chance to reform our state's legislature.
The State Senate term should be expanded to four year terms. Right now, both senators and assembly members serve two year terms and districts are based on population for both. Now, the ulimate upper house would be to let one senator represent each New York county since there are 62 of them, but this was determined years ago as unconstitutional and both are proportioned by population. Still, the redistricting of Senate seats should be in line with counties where they can.
Term Limits for the State Senate will be two terms (8 years) and the maximum of service can be less that ten years. So if there is a Special Election and the winner serves out less than two years, he or she can run two more times.
Term Limits for the Assembly should be five terms (10 years) or less, since the assembly will remain at two year terms.
One fear would be what we are about to experience with the city council. Of the 51 council seats, 40 are term limited out as 2009. So is the mayor, comptroller, public advocate, and four borough presidents. Some argue that this could affect city government and if the state were to enact term limits, the same could happen. To settle this, the clock begins with the election that follows enacting the new Term Limits law. Plus, any elected legislature that hits twenty years, must retire by the next term. For example, any Assemblyman who has served 18 or more years, he or she can run for one more two year term, but after that they cannot run again. The Senate can be done the same way.
The office of Governor, Lt Gov, Comptroller and Attorney General will be term limited to 2 four-year terms or 10 years.
There are probably a number of other things that would need to be worked out, but this is definitely a start in reforming State Government in New York.
Daniel,
I happen to completely agree with you on term limits. I believe that natural turnover is part of what keeps the system in check and helps get more people involved in public service. Consistency would be a major caveat; however, I believe the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages with term limits. Excellent observations.
One thing I failed to mention is that if the State Senate went to four-year terms, it would help with fundraising. As it stands now, with senate and assembly every two years, there are 212 seats that seek campaign contributions. With the Republican Party in NYC, there's always the argument that there isn't enough cash to go around. With four-year terms for Senate, the Republican Senate committee could raise money over a four year period instead of a two.
